Latrell Mitchell considers captaining South Sydney in the win over Newcastle a career highlight but says he would be hesitant to put his hand up for a formal leadership role at the club as long as Cameron Murray remained skipper.
Murray and veteran Damien Cook missed Friday's trip to Newcastle through State of Origin duty and one-time captain Mark Nicholls sat out injured, paving the way for Mitchell to lead his team for the first time.
The South Sydney fullback was playing only his second game back from a long-term hamstring injury but injected himself into the attack more deliberately than last week as the Rabbitohs ran out 40-28 winners.
Mitchell said he relished the chance to lead the under-strength side.
"I talked to the big fella (coach Jason Demetriou) and he said, 'Don't change anything, be you' and that's all I needed to do," Mitchell said.
"I definitely got a kick out of being up the top and leading the boys but I saw a lot of (other) leaders out there also."
The Rabbitohs don't play again until next Sunday so Murray appears likely to back up from State of Origin and resume the captaincy.
Asked whether he would be interested in taking on a formal leadership role full-time, Mitchell said the Rabbitohs thrived with Murray as the sole captain.
"This was thrown upon me at an early stage in my career and I've just run with it," he said.
"'Cam Muz is just an awesome leader. You see it every day," he said.
"You know what you're going to get out of a leader and that's Cam Murray. He's definitely up there as one of the greatest I've ever played with.
"I cannot wait to get him back into the team and have him start leading us again (but) I definitely hold (captaining the side) up as one of the biggest accolades that I've achieved in my career."
Mitchell said his hamstring felt back to its best in the win, which also marked the first time he had played alongside his brother Shaquai at NRL level.
The older Mitchell brother reportedly shed 55 kilograms on his journey to an NRL debut, which came against Manly in round eight.
Latrell missed that match through injury but was in the side as his brother ran out for his third NRL appearance.
Mitchell said finally having the chance to play with his sibling had evoked old memories.
"It was emotional," he said.
"It was just like seeing him back home when we were playing in Taree. He was straight off the back fence. That's how he is.
"He's got some skill and it's about building minutes in him now and I'm sure you'll all be able to see what I see and what coach sees. I can't wait for that."
